Friday Morning Cup O’Chiefs
In a ruling that surprised no one, the Delaware Supreme Court on Thursday said that a potential sports betting lottery in the state does not violate Delaware’s state constitution.
That takes the Blue Hen state one step closer to having legalized gambling on sporting events.
“What we anticipate having is a sport (book) similar to what you see in Las Vegas, that would be football and basketball,” Lottery Director Wayne Lemons told Reuters news service. “We intend to have it up and running by the time the 
football season starts in the fall.”
Delaware wants to have three kinds of bets: single-game using a point spread; over-under bets on the total number of points scored, and parlay games.
The five justices ruled that parlay games, in which a bettor picks the winner or more than one game, met constitutional muster. But the judges chose not to rule on whether betting on a single game would constitute a lottery.
The NFL is not happy. Heaven knows why professional football wants a say in the activities of a state where it does not have a team, but the league is pondering legal action to stop the lottery. The league says it violates the Delaware constitution and also violates a 1992 Federal law that banned sports betting.
The only states that can offer sports lotteries are those grandfathered under that law. That would be Nevada, Montana and Delaware, where they had a failed sports lottery back in 1976.
The league’s legal issue is that the Delaware constitution bans games of skill and that betting on pro football is skill, not chance.
No, winning while betting on pro football is skill. The mere act of placing the bet is nothing more than a game of chance for 99 percent of the people who place bets.
So why does Delaware want legalized gambling on sports? It’s the obvious reasons: to attract attention and visitors to the state, who will leave behind a lot of money. If you’ve ever been to Delaware then you know they need all the help they can get. I mean other than the beaches at the southeast end of the state, Delaware doesn’t have much to offer as it sits in this narrow piece of land that touches Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
At some 1,500 miles away from the Delaware state line, why should it matter to football fans in the Midwest whether they take bets on football or not? If you are concerned about the outcome and scores of games being corrupted, then you should always be worried about more gambling on the game.
Let’s face it: the chance to make money has driven gamblers for years in attempts to fix the outcome of games. It’s happened in baseball, pro basketball, college football and college basketball. The most recent case came in college football in March 2007 with a player at the University of Toledo charged in a point shaving conspiracy involving the 2005 GMAC Bowl.
Listen, if some degenerate gambler is scheming to fix the point spread in the GMAC Bowl, any and all athletic contests are in danger of being fixed. Listen, if you ever find yourself betting on the GMAC Bowl, seek help immediately.
Just about the only major sport where there hasn’t been a scandal involving potential fixing of a game is in pro football. There have been concerns over the years. Remember that Alex Karras and Paul Hornung were suspended for the 1963 season because they admitted to gambling on NFL games.
Many Chiefs fans don’t remember that there were concerns about the point spread and gambling on Chiefs game during their championship season of 1969. Several times that year, Chiefs games were taken off the boards of Las Vegas sports books because of what the Nevada authorities thought were irregularities in betting. Chiefs players were questioned by investigators during the season about what happened.
At some point in recent history there seems little doubt that gamblers had an effect on the final score of an NFL game. It would be silly to think otherwise. But it obviously didn’t cause much of a blip on the radar screen.
It’s much harder to pull something off in football. There are 22 players and seven officials on the field for each play. Being able to pull together enough participants to change the final score is almost impossible. It’s much easier in basketball, where one player can effect what happens. In football the only player who can come close to making something happen for the gamblers would be a quarterback.
Gambling is a double-edged sword that pro football must live with. The corrupting influences are a concern. But gambling generates a lot of interest in the game. Let me assure you of this: if there was not the ability to bet on NFL games in some fashion, the league would not be nearly as popular as it has become.
Maybe I’ve just hung out with too many degenerates over the years, but there are a lot of people who if they don’t have a little action on a game, aren’t interested. Those are the kind of guys that bet on the GMAC Bowl. Those are the types of guys who always find ways to bet, whether they are close to Las Vegas or in the future, Delaware.
NOW HERE’S A TOUGH OWNER: CAROLINA’S JERRY RICHARDSON
Back on Super Bowl Sunday (February 1), Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson has a bit of surgery.
He had a heart transplant. On Thursday, he attended the Panthers OTA session.
“He was great,” head coach John Fox said of Richardson (both men to the left).“He looked great. He’s getting stronger by the day. Everything’s going well with the procedure he had, and it was great seeing him out here.”
Quarterback Jake Delhomme was impressed by Richardson’s health and recovery.
“This is not an ACL or a Tommy John surgery he had,” Delhomme told the Carolina media. “This was a life-and-death surgery. I’m sure it’s a process, but certainly he looks good.
“He’s not just an owner by name. He’s one I think many, many guys on the team have a relationship with, and it’s not just ‘Hey, how are you doing?’ It’s a true relationship. He knows your family, your kids.
“So it makes it more meaningful to work for somebody like him or an organization like (his) which stands for the right things and does everything the right way. I think guys are close to him.”
SIGNINGS & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE
EAGLES – signed P Ken Parrish; released K Sam Swank.
49ERS – signed sixth round draft choice TE Bear Pascoe.
PACKERS – signed CB Tramon Williams to a one-year contract.
SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …
Born on May 29, 1936 in Philadelphia was LB Jim Fraser. He played in 14 games with the Chiefs during the 1965 season, one of six seasons he spent in pro football.
Born on May 20, 1977 in Shelby, North Carolina was CB Robert Williams. He joined the Chiefs as a fifth-round selection in the 1998 NFL Draft out of North Carolina. He played two seasons (1998-99) with the Chiefs, appearing in 17 games, making one start.
Ouch. Slow news day. (No offense, Bob.)
So, my question for the day:
Which is the more important key for success for our Defense this year…stopping the run, or getting some pressure on the QB?
Last year, teams pretty much ran at will on us. Which makes it fairly easy for opposing teams and their play-calling.
On the other had, it also makes it easy for the other team to pass on us…when the QB has all day to look over the field for an open receiver. Even with the decent play of our DB’s…it’s tough to keep coverage on NFL receivers for that long.
So which do you think is more important to our overall success?
It depends on the team. With most teams stoppiing the run first is the key. (Exceptions would by Patriots, Colts, Cardinals.) With the rest, once you stop the run you can force the team into passing downs and then put in the personnell for the pass rush. If you can’t stop the run…well you are the KC Chiefs of ‘08 and go 2-14.
Id say rushing the passer. It is much easier for the opposing team to score more points when they can throw all day on you, and throw deep passes. Thats just more poInts for us to overcome to win the game. Atleast if a team runs on you some, they are not scoring as many points or as often. That will help us win games with scoring less points…..imo
You are probably correct from your point of view but I suspect the Chiefs will try anything and everything including throwing the kitchen sink. If it works it stay, if not back to back of the defensive playbook. Even with the draftees and the 08 players, I am not sure the coaches know just what they have. It may take a full season to fit the pieces and get production. So the Chiefs will try to stop the run AND rush the QB. The real point of discussion might be can they do either well enough.
APauled,
I understand your take as well. Much truth in what you said.
But, we also had the worse record in sacks in NFL HISTORY last year, which also was a great contributor to our 2-14 record.
For our success next year, pressure on the qb is a must
There’s a good piece at kcchiefs.com today written by our very own Bob Gretz…on Dustin Colquitt. Just FYI.
“I want to bring in some opinions on our 4th qtr. collapses from last year.” (from Thursday)
Opponents have no tape on our gimmicky offense - Chiefs get some points in the first half. Halftime adjustments come…Chiefs appear to stop scoring. Does that sound accurate?
“So which do you think is more important to our overall success?”
Run D. If KC actually gets leads this year and has prevented the run, other team has to go one-dimensional and LB’s/DE’s can pin their ears back.
I also think run D. Of course they’re both important, but every one of the Chiefs divisional opponents looks capable of putting a strong running game on the field this season.
Having a poor pass rush hurts your pass defense, but so does having to put extra guys in the box to stop the run.
Anytime you can make a team one dimensional, it improves your chances of stopping the other team. Another important point - to stop the run, you have to “out-tough” the other team. You have to be stronger, faster, intelligent, and tougher to dominate at the line of scrimmage. When you establish that domination you have a psychological advantage. You create doubt. Maybe they’ll never say it (unless drugged with truth serum) but the other team starts to doubt itself. The other team, while trying to establish the run, begins to realize that it can’t. Pretty soon, that lack of confidence helps break down the passing game. When you dominate the line of scrimmage you take away the will, which not only stuffs the run, but leads to more pressure on the quarterback.
you have to stop the run, just because the other team will only score few points against you doesn’t mean anything, if you allow them to run the ball for the entire game you will not have the ball long enough to outscore them. Like the Vermiel chiefs teams, they would run the ball consistently, which in turn would force the other teams defense to tire out for one, but if they can’t get off the field it’s an 8 minute drive, there goes a quarter…
Defiently, stop the run first. boomer is right, when a team runs the ball down your throat, it’s demorlizing, and nothing fires an O-line up like being abel to pound on D-Linemen.
Author,
I know of one game that I think a QB was bought off in, that would be Super Bowl XXX, Neil O’Donnel! NO ONE will ever convince me that he didn’t throw that game! But DAMN! That was a pretty pass he threw to Brown, and it was a pass, NOT an interception!
Scott,
Good Question; My opinion, stop the run… You stop the run first and the fun begins. Granted stopping the RB is not nearly as exciting as watching the QB scramble, throw the ball away, throw very short passes or the ultimate thrill “The Sack” Forcing a team to pass 2 of 3 downs (like the Chiefs last year) allows for blitzing and open season on the QB. We have quality D-backs who can defend and tackle very well. “stop the run & have some fun” Hopefully the Chiefs montra this year.
Gambling, betting & lotteries too state to state across this great wa$teland ours, that be called the United $tate$ of; love the pursuit of it, or get out of the way.
Betting is today’s topic, ‘nother chance for Rin to elaborate on yesteryear. Now, the rest of the story.
You know good friends there was a time more than 40 years ago, when the word Chiefs and gambling was in the news.
Ixnay - not at Superbowl IV in January 1970 that related to QB Len Dawson - no, something else of even older vintage that, interestingly, also had Len in the story along with all of the Chiefs.
Twas some 3 years afore during the 1966 season that ‘rumors’ of gambling on Chiefs games made the news. In fact, out in Sin City where money goes out one pocket - yours - and into another - theirs - the repository known as the Las Vegas bookies actually stopped taking bets on Kansas City’s games…no line, all the time.
Congressional investigation was discussed as a possibility in the media - the ugly specter of ‘throwing games’ implicit. That it never went beyond speculative part for public consumption (generally) did not allay all the whispers.
That was the season the Chiefs went to the first Superbowl of course - AFL/NFL World Championship game as it was thence more commonly referred. As the latter happenstance necessarily led to more furrowing the brow, the issue did not go away in to that night so peacefully nor quickly at any.
Eventually it did of course, though, as soon aft as 1968 similar rumors re: pro football gambling in general & the Chiefs in particular once again made the news. It too went away quickly with no verifiable unlawful acts determined.
By 1969 after Joe Namath had led the NY Jets to the World Championship via a win Superbowl III, that QB’s relationship to nee part ownership in the Bachelors III nightclub he was a part owner of too came into question.
Joe was asked - with a permanent suspension his reward for a ‘no’ answer - to divest himself of his ownership. He refused, retired, pouted, and thence came around & acquiesced as Commissioner Rozelle had requested (something about a shady character or several w/possible mob connections and being in cahoots with, etc.)
Then as the previously referenced Superbowl IV drew nigh, Detroit gambler Donald Dawson & his relationship any with Kaycee’s Len Dawson made national news; the men were found to have been but casually acquainted…the story died there, and with it any suggestion Len Dawson or other athletes mentioned were guilty of anything.
Point of all being that whether rumor, innuendo or actual fact, gambling has been around a long time (in fact back in 1963, 2 NFL players (Paul Hornung & Alex Karras) were suspended for that entire season. The ‘throwing games’ however has been a tougher nut to crack (although elsewhere other sports some finding of validity said even fairly recently regards college basketball.)
So, like a bad girl, the Chiefs have a bit of a ‘history’ if you will…and, like most of these when reviewed for accuracy, becomes more matter wishful thinking than unfettered result. As the designer jeans that burst on the scene via much fanfare before petering out, ‘no excuses’ as well ‘no consensus’ the final analysis.
The story you have just read is true…the names were not changed so as to protect the premise of the story.
Dah, da-da-dah…dah, da-da-da-dahhhh…
“…allows for blitzing and open season on the QB.”
Bobby Bell’s BBQ anyone?
“…kcchiefs.com”
Long live the mother ship.
Got to stop the run first. If you don’t, a team can get ahead then easily shorten the game eating up the clock & number of possessions you’ll have on offense. Basic football…
May 29, 2009 - anonymous says:
Defiently, stop the run first. boomer is right, when a team runs the ball down your throat, it’s demorlizing, and nothing fires an O-line up like being abel to pound on D-Linemen.
Author,
I know of one game that I think a QB was bought off in, that would be Super Bowl XXX, Neil O’Donnel! NO ONE will ever convince me that he didn’t throw that game! But DAMN! That was a pretty pass he threw to Brown, and it was a pass, NOT an interception!
Damn straight! Thats EXACTLY who I thought of too. You can’t tell me he didn’t tank that game. I remember watching him thinking, he must be cashing in BIG TIME from someone!
Why I remember back in 1883 or was it 84………..no it was 1882 because aunt Polly was still with us………..uhhhhhhhhh where was I. Oh yeah Why I remember back in 1883 or was it…..snooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooze.
Amateurs… they gots the not so much yeller as green-eyed jaundice.
The NFL should be strongly behind LEGAL, REGULATED, FULLY TRANSPARANT betting on it’s games. That prevents any taint, because the prospective fixer(s) can’t hide their action, like they can with illegal, underground betting as it exists now. Vegas can easily spot irregularities, as they did back in the 60’s with the Chiefs games, and investigate. More regulated gambling will take organized crime out of the picture, help state budgets that need all the help they can get, and make the NFL even more popular, as more people will be able to legally get in on the action.